Despite Impossible Odds, Huckabee Supporters Still Plan To Vote For Him

By: Joy Lin
Topics: Mike Huckabee

(CBS)

From CBS News' Joy Lin:

PEWAUKEE, WISC. -- Most didn't care; others, resolutely defiant. When told that Mike Huckabee didn't have much of a shot at winning the nomination, supporters said they were voting for him anyway.

"If God wants him in, he'll win," said Lissa Eske, of Oconomowoc. "And even if he can't, I'll vote for what's right." She had driven 20 minutes to see him. A caregiver at a nursing home, Eske said she was "concerned" about McCain's "liberal leanings" and that he was "overly focused on the war." More importantly, she liked Huckabee and trusted him. When she casts her vote next week, Eske said it was a vote for Huckabee, not against McCain.

To the vibrant crowd of more than 500 people, Huckabee said, "People ask me, why am I staying in this race? Well, first of all, I got in it to win and I'm staying in it to win." The audience cheered. "If nobody gets 1,191 delegates before the convention, then we'll settle it at the convention like it used to be done in the old days and I'll take my chances there like anybody else."

Kent Moore, of Waukesha, has been following Huckabee for a while now. He wants Huckabee to stay in the race, protesting the notion McCain would win the nomination without having a contest of ideas. He said he would vote for Huckabee as a way to keep "McCain going to the right" and not "off the reservation."

It was an argument Huckabee acknowledged in his speech.

"In many ways, the discussion over the next several weeks is not just about the next election, it is about the next generation," he said. "It's not just about the politics of the Republican party, it's about the principles of the Republican party. It's not just about winning and losing an election, it's about winning and losing a culture. It's about whether or not we will stand for something or whether we will fall for anything just so that we can beat the other guys."

He continued, "Ladies and gentlemen, if it doesn't matter anymore what we believe, then most of us probably wouldn't have gotten involved in politics anyway. Because most of us didn't get involved because of the game of it. We got involved because of the goal of it – which is to preserve, protect, and pass on a culture and a country for our kids."

What surprised Kelly Smith, a journalist living outside a town named Heartland, was the age range and makeup of the audience. He noted people in the crowd were in their late 30s and early 40s, bringing entire families of toddlers and pre-teens to the event. He also noted that, in an area with a sizeable evangelical community, it was surprising to him that "not a single Republican official had showed up."

Perhaps, Smith speculated, it was an indication that young families were seeking a new kind of leadership. With a vibrant talk radio environment in Wisconsin, where many conservative talk show hosts "hate McCain Feingold," he said it's hard to come to conclusions about who would win next week given the state's fierce independence.

"Wisconsin is kind of like Iowa," said Smith. "It's a state of mind."

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by chris_taylo3 February 17, 2008 3:30 AM EST: 7 URGENT! VOTERS need a CHOICE! Every time Mike Huckabee gets air time his polls go up -- so we must insist they hold Republican Debates!!! And, I say we ask for Equal Time -- why is CNN holding 2 Democrat Debates (Feb. 21-Texas, Feb. 27 Ohio)???? We want 2 Republican Debates Too!!!! Equal Time for Republicans!!! (The Ohio GOP cancelled the Feb 28th CNN debate). Tell them that the media will not decide for the voters who the candidates are!
Contact CNN: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?65
Let''s insist that this debate happens! We Write/Call your RNC officials:
OH State Party Contact Information
Republican State Central & Exec. Committee of Ohio
p: 614-228-248
f: 614-228-1093
website: http://www.ohiogop.org

TX State Party Contact Information
Republican Party of Texas
p: (512) 477-9821
f: (512) 480-0709
website: http://www.texasgop.org; Reply to this comment


by bethidee-2009 February 16, 2008 9:38 PM EST: Conservatives, if you truly believe McCain''s nomination is a foregone conclusion, don''t waste your vote! Cast it for the ONLY conservative left: Governor Huckabee. We need and deserve a place at the table at this convention- it''s vital- and you can make it happen by making your voice heard.
Mike Huckabee is the only candidate with a tough stand on illegal immigration (and a thorough plan to address it), the candidate who stands for Second Amendment rights, the candidate who believes in American sovereignty, who believes in the sanctity of life, who has an excellent plan to rejuvenate this country''s economy...and who never flip-flops on his principles. He''s also the only one with true executive experience, as opposed to years of legislative experience as a Washington insider. Please- we are counting on you to stand up for what is right.
And I, too, would like to thank Joy for her excellent coverage of Governor Huckabee. Her segments are invariably a refreshing change from most of the mainstream media bias.; Reply to this comment


by stfannin February 16, 2008 3:13 AM EST: Does Huckabee like all the attention given to his religious views? Here''s what he said to the Christian Science Montior:

"There has been an attempt to ghettoize me for a very small part of my biography. The last time I was in the pulpit was 1991.%u201D

The press is paying attention to his religious views. For a man who wears his religion glibly on his sleeve, why is this a problem? Could it be Huck is finally going back to his old habit of irrationally bickering at the press because it''s clear he''s not going to get his way? This Arkansan thinks so.; Reply to this comment


by giantrobot2 February 15, 2008 9:52 PM EST: The smoke filled cigar room of the old establishment puppets are trying to rule this country as the know it alls.

They don''t like Mike Huckabee''s charm, charisma and optimistic attidude. They feel threatened that they will lose control of their power hungry system.

They walk around pretending to care about the ordinary citizen, but in reality only care about their power and money.

Don''t be tricked into thinking they are for you. They have a attitude problem, they think the common ordinary American''s are too stupid and they must control them.

The American people must rally around the charisma of Mike Huckabee. He deeply cares about ordinary Americans.

He wants to "share" his power with you, not "show" his power like the other power hungry establishments want to do.

It''s time to show the establishments that the American people can think for themselves. Let''s rally around Mike Huckabee, a honest trustworthy and humble man.; Reply to this comment


by oestec February 15, 2008 5:54 PM EST: My fellow Christians, PLEASE read the other half of your Bible! You know, the part where Jesus Himself says ''if they persecuted me they will do the same to those who follow after me''? How about the fact that He was rejected by the world? If Huckabee is a godly man, which I believe he is, most should hate him for being so! THAT is what the Word says!!! This has nothing whatsoever to do with the GOP or whether ''social conservatives'' feel like they are not being supported within the party. To suggest that a hillary or barak would be better than ANY Republican if Huckabee loses is myopic and childish. If it''s not going to be Mike, let the enemy have it''s way??? Wouldn''t it be much more productive to try and chasten McCain? To PRAY to G_D on his behalf? To help mold him into the sort of candidate we could be proud of? (at the very least, from an Evangelical perspective?) Didn''t we all do so when GWB won? (BOTH times???); Reply to this comment


by erter01 February 15, 2008 4:43 PM EST: The overwhelming support that Huckabee is receiving in the face of nearly impossible odds is evidence that social conservatives are demanding change within the GOP. George Bush would not have been re-elected in 04 without our numbers and McCain will not be elected in 08 without the base. That is unless he supports Life and Marriage ammendments. Personally, I''d rather endure four terrible years of an Obama/Clinton whitehouse than allow the GOP to marginaize us further. Go Huckabee...dont give up!; Reply to this comment


by psalm-2 February 15, 2008 3:57 PM EST: Hey firstceb, take heart guy, all is not lost. I know it seems that way. You Huck supporters are now feeling similar to us Ron Paul supporters - ignored & unappreciated ! There is definietly a ''climate of opinion'' out there that seeks to ''conform'' our opinions, instead of ''informing'' our opinions.

In a true Christian culture, the Truth would gain a hearing. But God is Sovereign, and though it may not seem so, He''s arranging all things ''according to the cousel of His own will''.

If we think it''s hopeless, think of Valley Forge, Washington & the bedraggled Colonial Army bleeding the snow red. Who would have thought at that moment, when they prayed to God, seemingly in vain, for deliverance from cold & starvation, that they were on the verge of beating the mighty British Army and founding a new nation ?

It''s always darkest, just before the dawn.....Psalm 2 gives the script....read it & be encouraged Christ will not fail....ever...; Reply to this comment


by psalm-2 February 15, 2008 3:57 PM EST: Hey firstceb, take heart guy, all is not lost. I know it seems that way. You Huck supporters are now feeling similar to us Ron Paul supporters - ignored & unappreciated ! There is definietly a ''climate of opinion'' out there that seeks to ''conform'' our opinions, instead of ''informing'' our opinions.

In a true Christian culture, the Truth would gain a hearing. But God is Sovereign, and though it may not seem so, He''s arranging all things ''according to the cousel of His own will''.

If we think it''s hopeless, think of Valley Forge, Washington & the bedraggled Colonial Army bleeding the snow red. Who would have thought at that moment, when they prayed to God, seemingly in vain, for deliverance from cold & starvation, that they were on the verge of beating the mighty British Army and founding a new nation ?

It''s always darkest, just before the dawn.....Psalm 2 gives the script....read it & be encouraged Christ will not fail....ever...; Reply to this comment


by marinepatriot February 15, 2008 3:39 PM EST: Wow. I am feeling so depressed. Our land of the free is becoming the land of the corrupt.

I tried to call one of the talk shows hosted through Clear Chanel Communications, and after I told them why I feel Governor Mike Huckabee is the choice of the people, they just heckled me.

I never got on the air of course because my opinion and choice wasn''t the same as theirs.

While they heckled me, I told them that at least since I served in the Marine Corps for my country for over 13 years, that I should at least be able to speak my opinion.

They called me un-American and stupid. They heckled me for being a Marine, for serving my Country, and for even thinking I had a right to say what I believe.

The media is paid and has agendas based on money and who pays them. With what happened with Romney and now Mccain, our Government is going to force their choice on us no matter what we do.

I have been so patriotic because I love my country. Now I fear she may be lost.; Reply to this comment


by psalm-2 February 15, 2008 3:17 PM EST: I just heard that McCain/Romney is a likely matchup, which makes sense with his endorsement yesterday of McCain. Neither one is any sort of serious conservative - although Romney has more the appearance of being so, than does McCain.

A matchup of Paul/Huckabee might be interesting....to unite our respective forces with contrasting strengths.

Meanwhile Hillary & Obama are going to be horribly divisive on the DEM side. [See Joseph Farah''s excellent editorial about this today Feb 15th at www.WND.com]

The issue most overlooked by candidates and the media is our loss of National Sovereignty to globalism & our failure to hold our leaders acoountable to obey the Consitution.

If we get these two things right, exactly who is elected is somewhat immaterial.....; Reply to this comment